6 Sureridenewsletter

Volume 5, Issue 3 March 2018 Bicycle Safety for Enthusiasts
In the B ICYCLE S AFETY : L ET S M AKE I T A P RIORITY !

Helmet Habit
Protect your child!
I dont quite know why my
daughter, Kate, fell from her bike Did you know that each year over 1,200 people die and thousands
last July. Maybe she hit a small more are seriously injured in bicycle accidents? According to the
rock or just lost her balance. We American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 500,000 emergency room
found Kate lying on the ground. visits annually in the U.S. are attributed to bicycle accidents.
She was bleeding and had several Surprisingly, most of these accidents, especially those involving
cuts and bruises on her face and
children, occur on quiet residential streets. Most do not involve cars.
forehead. We called the
paramedics and she began to lose And many could be prevented
consciousness just as they with proper training and safety
arrived. At the emergency room, equipment. Over 500,000 trips a
we found out that Kate had a Think about it. Before were year are made to
broken nose, a missing tooth, and allowed to drive a car, we have to emergency rooms for
four other loose teeth. be a certain age and go through bicycle-related injuries.
Fortunately, for all of us, Kate
extensive training and testing. Yet
was wearing a bicycle helmet.
Without even asking, three
many of uschildren in
different doctors have told us particularride the very same roads on a bicycle with little or no
that the helmet probably saved training at all. Kids are especially vulnerable because of their
Kates life. Bicycle accidents can undeveloped peripheral vision (about two-thirds that of adults), poor
happen to anyone! speed judgment, and lack of a sense of danger.
Karen Brust At Sure Ride, we believe bicycle safety education is crucial to our
Boston, Massachusetts well-being and to that of our children.
The bottom line? Bicycle safety is something we all need to make a
priority!
IN THIS ISSUE:
A CCIDENTS W AITING TO H APPEN
Bicycle Safety: Lets Make
It a Priority! / 1 The majority of bicycle-car accidents are not really accidents, but
Accidents Waiting to avoidable collisions. Most result from the bicyclists failure to use
Happen / 1 proper riding techniques in a hazardous situation. Ironically, when
When Should a Helmet asked, most children injured in traffic could describe the actual law they
Be Replaced? / 2 broke.
Kids and Traffic: Special
Reasons for Concern / 2
See ACCIDENTS on page 2
......................................................................................................... Helmets save lives!
T HE L IGHT B ULB T EST W HO S AYS H ELMETS A REN T C OOL ?

To illustrate the effectiveness of a
bicycle helmet, try the following.
Wrap a light bulb in plastic wrap,
seal the bottom with a rubber band
and place it in a bicycle helmet.
Secure the light bulb with tape and
drop the helmet onto a flat, hard
surface from above your head. The
light bulb will not break. In most
cases, it will even still light. Now,
drop the light bulb without the
protection of the helmet. The light
bulb will produce a sick thud as it
breaks. Helmets can make a
difference.
Caution: This experiment is
meant to be done under close
supervision. Figure 1: Certainly not the children of Shasta, California! One of the
biggest reasons children dont wear bicycle helmets is because their
friends dont wear them. By getting all the children in your school or
neighborhood to order bicycle helmets at the same time, you can help
ACCIDENTS from page 1 turn this peer pressure from negative to positive. Suddenly, wearing a
Research indicates that 60% of bicycle helmet becomes the cool thing to do. With your support, your
all U.S. bicycle-car collisions occur kids can be cool, too!
among bicyclists between the ages
of 8 and 12. Children are permitted W HEN S HOULD A H ELMET B E R EPLACED ?
to travel with only look both ways
After a crash. Almost all bicycle helmets are designed to absorb
before you cross the street and
the impact of a crash so that your head is protected. This
make sure you stop at all stop signs
damages the foam liner and reduces its ability to protect in the
warnings. Obviously, these
future. If you are involved in a crash and your helmet hits the
warnings are not enough.
pavement, it should be carefully inspected and/or replaced.
When it doesnt fit. Bicycle helmets must fit correctly to offer the
intended protection. See your owners manual for information
Sure Ride on how to achieve a correct fit.
Editor: After three to five years. The Snell Memorial Foundation
Terrence Morrow recommends that you replace your helmet after five years. Due
Design and Layout:
Sophie Brown to advances in technology and performance, we suggest your
Authors: helmet be evaluated after three years. Normal wear and tear due
Ryan Steele to drops and exposure gradually reduces a helmets strength and
Sherai McAvoy
Hannan Cantor protection capabilities.
Published quarterly by: When it isnt being worn. For whatever reason (not comfortable,
Sure Ride, Inc.
P.O. Box 252 too hot, too heavy, too old, doesnt match the new hat or coat,
Redding, CA 96002 etc.), it may be time for a new helmet. Manufacturers have made
800-555-RIDE dramatic improvements in style, weight, ventilation and cost
Fax: 530-555-9068 over the last few years.
Copyright 2018 by:
Sure Ride, Inc.
All rights reserved. ~2~

6 Sureridenewsletter

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

6 Sureridenewsletter

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

6 Sureridenewsletter

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Volume 5, Issue 3 March 2018 Bicycle Safety for Enthusiasts

In the B ICYCLE S AFETY : L ET S M AKE I T A P RIORITY !

T HE L IGHT B ULB T EST W HO S AYS H ELMETS A REN T C OOL ?

You might also like